//------------------------------// // The Scorpion's Charm // Story: Apples & Lucky Horseshoes // by DaringBraeburn //------------------------------// The walk to Blade's little shop seemed to last forever, even though I knew the way. I guess you could say I was dying of anticipation to see my new friend or I was just really bored and craving something to do. Either way, I happily trotted through the door of the quaint little shop. "Blade? Blade?!" I called as I trotted to the center of the room. It was larger than I had originally expected and full to the brim with artistry. I gasped as my eyes took in the sparkling beauty all around me. The shop was a perfect square and had a turquoise rug with a large almost lifelike picture of a scorpion. The walls were covered in shelves and nooks filled with metal objects and swords skillfully made. I found myself in awe as my eyes spied something even more breathtaking than the rest. It was sitting on a shelf right behind the cash register in a protective case. The necklace was a bright blue and black color that cast a sheen across my muzzle as I stared at it in reverence. It was big, at least twice as big as my hooves and was shaped like a lifelike scorpion. I jumped back when I thought I saw it snap it's pincers. "Hey! Hey! Hey! What in Equestria are you DOING?!" a familiar voice called. Frightened, I jumped back and was face to face with vibrant green eyes I instantly recognized. Except for the fact they were a bit angry instead of the usual optimism I was always happy to see. "Applebloom?" Blade asked as his worried frown turned into a small smile and then a frown again. "Are you okay? Braeburn didn't hurt you did he? If so where?" I blushed slightly as Blade began to poke and prod at my legs and back. At one point he even went for my ears. I yelped and covered them with my hooves, blushing severely. "Oh yeah, I forgot Earthpony ears can be very sensitive." Blade chuckled as he helped me up off the floor. I felt extremely embarrassed and I wanted to keep quiet but I just had to ask. "Um Blade? What's that?" I queried, pointing to the large necklace in it's protective case. Blade looked at it as it to say 'this one?' before he gave a loud, tired sigh. "That's 'The Scorpion Charm'. It supposedly belonged to the goddess Serket before it was given to one of the Pharaohs of Equipt as a gift. They say it holds insurmountable power and could control one's mind if put into the wrong hooves. Truthfully, I have no idea where it came from or what it does but...I can feel it's dangerous." Blade whispered in a low serious tone. I could feel he was getting uncomfortable just by looking at it. "If it's really that dangerous why don't ya just destroy it?" I asked quietly. My eyes still dancing across the gleaming azure pendant. " I tried." He whimpered in defeat. "You can't, but I made sure it's well protected. That case is shatterproof, fireproof, magicproof, and waterproof. Not to mention it can only be unlocked using a key that only Kickstar and I keep on us at all times and change monthly." "Ohhh..." I hummed quietly while stepping closer to it. "It's beautiful though." Blade put a hoof in front of me and shook his head. I knew I should get too close but it was SO pretty. "No." Blade growled, giving my tail a hard yank. I was instantly pulled back to reality and across the floor by his strong tug. I looked up to him to see his mouth full of my red hair. He spit it out and gave me a glare. "Don't EVER do that again! That thing is dangerous!" Blade snarled. His eyes that usually seemed so happy were now full of anger and hatred. I found myself cowering in fear as he glowered above me. A second later he blinked and the look he had worn vanished. "S-sorry Applebloom. It's just...n-nevermind." he whimpered, once again helping me up from the floor. I found myself starting to get scared of the young buck, even though I knew he would never hurt me. He wouldn't right? "I-it's alright Blade. You were just being a lil' scary for a moment there." I stammered quietly, and realized I was shaking. Blade's look of guilt only seemed to grow even more. "Heh heh. You wouldn't happen to know where the bakery is, would ya?" * * * * "I'm sorry I can't go with you until I close down for lunch break, but I can tell you the way. The bakery is down two blocks and to the right. If you're looking for water I recommend going Tendercare first since she has TONS of the stuff but she can only give out so much at a time. If Tendercare can't give it to you...try the saloon but be careful. You might run into Thunder and I have no idea what he might do to you." Blade said with a worried little frown. "Thanks for the advice Blade. I'll see ya at the bakery when ahm done." I said with a smile. With a small hug and a quick glance at the charm I was out the door. Braeburn would really need the stuff and it wouldn't take too long to get. The water was first priority though. I trotted down the street toward the train station where I had first met Tendercare. At first all my eyes caught were the bustling ponies throughout the path, but then I saw the pretty colors of her mane and coat. "Tenercare?!" I called as I trotted up to the little shop. I half expected to see it full with sick ponies like when Applejack made those "baked bads". Surprisingly enough there were only two young bucks about my age there. "Applebloom. It's wonderful to see you in one piece, sweetie!" a familiar feminine voice called. It reminded me so much of Rarity except for the fact she didn't carry herself same 'uptightness'. I smiled as the mare gave me a large hug and broke away to give me a quick once over. "You're alright. Thank the goddesses! I half expected to see you in here last night in a full body cast! But you're fine and now I don't have to worry about that drunkard beating up anymore ponies." she said with a bubbly tone. How did she know Braeburn wasn't going to cause anymore problems? "Erm...Miss Tendercare? How exactly do you know Braeburn won't be hurting anypony anymore?" I asked hesitantly. The young mare gave me a beautiful grin. "Oh....because he came and told me not even an hour ago. He apologized and PROMISED he would never hurt another pony ever! Isn't that great?" she giggled clapping her hooves together in pure glee. I found myself gaping like a fish at the fact. "Oh and we're out of water if that's what you were going to ask for...sorry Applebloom. Oh dear, I was so happy I forgot I needed to get some more bandages from the linen mill. Now you two stay here till I get back and I'll patch you up right quick." she smiled before skipping down the street. Ultimately leaving me there with the two injured bucks. The duo were sitting on different cots and seemed to have what looked like burns across their whole body. The places that looked the worse were covered in a white paste like cream I assumed were for burns. Both were earthponies and seemed to be in a good amount of pain and looked quite hilarious, so I had to ask. "What in Equestria happened to you two." I guffawed. The two bucks glared for a moment before their gazes seemed to soften. The older one with a tan mane and brown coat cleared his throat and looked me in the eye with his yellow ones. "I was trying to flirt with one of Thunder Flare's mares...Fizzle Driz I think was her name. She grabbed a cloud real quick, gave it a kick, and made it rain FIRE! Tumbleweed and I were able to get outta there with the price of our hides." he said sullenly before curling up on his cot away from me. "Awww...don't worry about old Duster there. He never gets the mare." Tumbleweed snickered pointing a hoof at his friend. "Just another lesson not mess with Thunder or any of his crew or else you'll be next." I shivered and gave a small nod before galloping out the shop. I really didn't want any problems but Braeburn asked for water and the only place to get that was at the saloon. Where Thunder Flare and his 'crew' hung out on a daily basis. Ugh. * * * * I REALLY didn't want to go to the saloon but....I PROMISED Braeburn I would get him some water. It wasn't the rest of the ponies in there that got me...no. It was the feeling I was being watched again. This time I felt even more eyes on me. With a small gulp I headed over to the bar and looked for Jack the bartender. He was no where to be found. My eyes scanned the room for any signs of him only to be left disappointed. However, before I could leave I felt a strong pair of hooves wrap around me and pull me up. I tried to scream as I was pulled higher but a dark blue hoof covered my mouth. A second later I was deposited on a rafter high above the games and lights of the tavern. I gulped and practically clung to my rafter like a cat to a tree. It wasn't until I heard the snickers of multiple ponies did I toughen up. "Looks like somepony's afraid of heights." A masculine voice not too much unlike Thunder Flare's snickered. I looked in the direction where it had come from to see the pony that had more than likely kidnapped me. His mane was a blood red color with small streaks of black and a little blue. His eyes were a fierce red like his mane and like Thunder's eyes, except that there wasn't as much animosity in them. His coat was a silky looking navy blue color that framed his slender form quite nicely. Before I could react though, the young buck jumped at me and pushed me over the rafter. I thought I was going to die since I didn't trust any of the ponies to catch me. I covered my eyes and hoped for the quickest death possible. Once again I felt nothing, and looked up to find the buck holding my tail in his teeth. "Put her down Razor." A familiar cold voice commanded. I felt myself give small shiver as Razor (one of Blade's ex friends!) put me down nicely on the rafter I had been on. I didn't want to seem weak in front of the monster so I stood up on the beam without shaking or shivering. Thunder gave me an amused little look before pacing back and forth on his own crossbar in front of me. He looked like a lion ready to pounce on a defenseless little antelope but I wasn't defenseless or an antelope. I gave him a the sure little grin Blade had given me from the moment he saw me and Thunder stood still. "What do you think of our little home Applebloom?" the buck said with emphasis. On the outside I was hard but on the inside I was quaking. How did he know my name? The buck gave me an upraised brow for my response. I looked around the entire little area to find it was chock full of pegasai, every age, every size, and every shape. Most of them seemed to be lounging around while the others were nervous young colts and fillies fidgeting and whispering. The only beams that were empty were the ones Thunder and I were standing on. "It's...nice. If yer a pegasus." I mused, letting one of my hooves brush my bangs out of my eyes. Thunder's eyes narrowed slightly before he continued to pace. I could hear movement behind me but I was too scared to move. Thunder stopped moving and turned to face right in front of me. "Fizzle Driz, Razor, now." the buck snarled through gritted teeth. I could feel all of the attention shift towards me, Thunder, and the two new ponies at his sides. The one on his left was Razor, the buck who had kidnapped me in the first place. The one on his right...was a mare I didn't recognize. She was an orange pegasus with beautiful red tipped feathers. Her eyes shone like diamonds but were the color of the darkest blue gemstones I had ever seen. He mane and tail were red like her feathers but held one stripe of matching blue from her eyes. I couldn't see her cutiemark but I knew one thing...she was insanely gorgeous. "I'm sure Blade has told you much about his ex friends, but I don't think he explained anything about his ex." Thunder smirked while wrapping a wing around stunning femme fatale. Was it just me, or was Razor shooting looks at Thunder? Fizzle Driz spread her red feathers and gracefully leaped to my beam. She began to examine me with her starry eyes and decorated wings before she gave a scoff. I didn't have to be smart to know she was jealous of me. Why? I had no idea. "You must be the mare that has Blade head over hooves. Of course I don't see how you could find him attractive...with his odd ways. Then again I did at one point...so I guess I can understand." she whispered smoothly, her voice hinting at charm and deceit she was hiding. "Ah don't like him like that. We're just friends. Ah met him YESTERDAY!" I hissed at the bewitching snake in front of me. Her dark eyes were filled with sympathy as she wrapped a delicate wing around me. I felt somehow comforted by the gesture and felt my rigid muscles slightly relax. "Of course you would think that at first...you've never had a coltfriend have you?" she chuckled slightly, the grip of her wing growing tighter. I shook my head and she gave me a small smile. "Well that's quite alright. Not everypony can get one." "What does any of this have to do with me?" I snorted. The hard blush across my muzzle dying just a bit. Thunder just gave a small smile before letting his gaze fall onto Fizzle. She snickered in my ear before giving me a quiet whisper. "Just be careful. Blade is quite experienced when it comes to...some things. He's also a sweet liar. I'm really jealous of that." she giggled. The tip of her tail grazed my flank as she flew across the beams and gave Thunder an affectionate nuzzle. I was...confused to say the least. She talked so fond of Blade yet showed even more of Thunder. Experienced...some things...ex...had they? I felt my cheeks burn at the sudden realization that the two had been much more than just friends. "Why are ya telling me this?!" I squeaked, looking at the two with utter disgust. Now I had...images! NOT EVEN THINKING ABOUT IT!!! "I told you he was a sweet liar, a deceptionist, a cheating bastard...take your pick. I have thousands more." she snarled. Her flirty facade was gone, leaving only an angry attitude and a zealous hatred for me. She was jealous...but why? "Be careful with him. Razor?" she whispered. Her angry feelings once again masked with her charming front. Before I could say anything I was practically dropped to the ground by Razor who was grumbling profanities under his breath. "Stupid Thunder. She's mine. I thought he understood. I though Blade understood. Those liars." he mumbled quietly. Was he jealous of Thunder and Blade's relationship to Fizzle. He had been her friend since the beginning, at least that's what I understood. "Applebloom? Applebloom?!" a familiar voice called. Razor dropped me a good four feet from the ground and raced back up to the rafters. I stood up and brushed some dirt off of my coat when Blade came running around the corner and nearly into me. He was panting heavily and there was a bit of sweat on his brow, from the running I guessed. "APPLEBLOOM! I thought you were kidnapped or something when you didn't show up to the bakery when you should have. Are you okay? Thunder and his jerks didn't do anything to you, did they?" he asked with concern. I shook my head and he gave me a large hug. "I wouldn't forgive myself if something were to happen to you! I'm just glad you're safe." he whispered in relief. I wanted to tell him that I had been kidnapped not only a second ago but...I looked up. Fizzle was standing on the edge, her expression hard, jealous, and angry. "Ahm okay Blade. Ah was just trying out some of the video games, that's all." I said with an innocent little smile. With that he grabbed my hoof and pulled me to the door. "Great! Now you can meet my sister, she's at the bakery!" he chuckled, pulling me out the door. Before I went with him I glanced back at the rafters I had seen Fizzle standing on. The scorpion was gone.